Locust Point - Proposed state legislation to add new restaurants

[Lydia R]

The recent posts praising Harvest Table and Luca Cafe have me thinking about checking out Locust Point. I was surprised to see an article in this week's Baltimore Business Journal describing special legislation to benefit the developer of McHenry Row [on site of former Chesapeake Paperboard Co.] by allowing three medium to large sized restaurants [chains?] with alcohol licenses [not available now due to community request].

Is there a need in Locust Point? Is the neighborhood worth the drive for a DC hound? What's a good strategy for parking?
http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/balt...

=== [Quote from BBJ article] ========================================
"The community is looking to have more choices for retail and dining," said Paul Silberman, president of the Locust Point Civic Association. Residents want to see a mix of local and national restaurants, he said.

Silberman did not know which restaurants are under consideration for the project.

Senate Bill 496 requires that a restaurant owner seeking a "Class B" beer, wine and liquor license at McHenry Row must invest at least $600,000 and house a restaurant that seats between 70 and 150 people. About two-thirds of the restaurant's sales must be derived from food sales.

[sweetpotater]

150 people -- that sings CHAIN to me, which is a shame. Though I'd be happy for a Harris Teeter. The supermarket going up in the new Fort Ave. development is rumored to be a Mars, which doesn't impress me.

[JonParker]

Where did you hear that? All the rumors I heard were for Harris Tweeter. If that's true it's severely disappointing. Why do we need a Mars? We have a crappy supermarket in the neighborhood already.

[sweetpotater]

I heard it from someone who has some, though not full, proximity to the planning process.

[charmedgirl]

Nooooooooooooo! Last word was it was a Teeter. I was so excited. Now it's a Mars? That blows. :-(

[aussiewonder]

While I enjoy walking over to Ft McHenry (the big 'draw' for Locust Point) from Canton, or taking in the limited culinary delights, i would not suggest that in it's current incarnation it's worth the drive from DC. Yes, there are a couple of good places to eat, but eat, not dine. It's a working class neighbourhood in transition. There are many corner bars not even worth mentioning and only a handful of places worth visiting, most of which are casual fare or stop in kind of places. If you're planning on coming to the Inner Habor or checking out Ft McHenry then by all means i would suggest a trip to some of the local haunts. But I wouldn't make the trip specifically to visit the aforementioned places - Harvest Table, Luca Cafe, NasuBlanca, Wine Market...

Re: Parking - if you're visiting the Fort (the grounds are free to wander around) there's plenty of parking and in the neighbourhood proper it's all street parking which at the moment is easily accessible to all.

[JonParker]

It also runs into Federal Hill, which does have decent places in it.

[aussiewonder]

that it does but I'm not sure if there's anywhere in FedHill I'd drive from DC for Just to eat? And I'm thinking, when i drive to a restaurant out of state Just for Eats it's usually bc that cuisine is not available in my city or there's an outstanding-blow-me-away restaurant I just have to eat at. I'm not sure if there's anywhere in FedHill/Locust Point that would fit that desciption - bar a fav crab haunt/shack...

[locustpointgirl]

I live in LP, so I'm pretty biased. I like Pazza Luna, Hull Street Blues (Tuesday Night $10 dinners), we are absolutely devoted to the little Himalayan House carryout and we're excited to try Luca's.

Pazza Luna is much better than average Italian and has regular 25% off snow specials when the weather is crappy. We've taken advantage of being on their mailing list this winter. Last March we celebrated my birthday and the closing on our house (in an ice storm) at Pazza Luna and I had their incredible chocolate cocoa ravioli stuffed with gorgonzola and goat cheese in a porcini cream sauce. Not your average Little Italy Italian.

I would say that of all the LP Restaurants, Nasu Blanca might fit your bill of unusual food worth the drive. We ate there for restaurant week last summer and although we were skeptical of both the Japanese/Spanish approach and the prices (a little high) we ended up being very impressed with the restaurant.
You'll find a couple of reviews here: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/427207

I keep my ear to the ground and go to all of the neighborhood association meetings in LP. I still believe it's going to be a Harris Teeters Grocery store. And I do think you are right about the likelihood of chains in the McHenry Row development. When Sapperstein talked to the LPCA, I got a distinctly Panera/Bonefish-esque feel for the type of restaurants they might be courting. I'm not saying those chains specifically were mentioned, but that was the general feeling I got.

As for parking, they are building new garages in the McHenry Row complex. As with any city neighborhood, please be courteous when parking, as it is almost always tight. I've come home more than once to find an unfamiliar Lincoln Navigator wedged up on my sidewalk and bumping our cars on our very tiny street.

[hon]

People will recommend LP Steamers for crabs, I have had nothing but mediocre to bad crab experiences there. They reheat their crabs and their prices are absurd.

[KAZ]

Hello muse, meet fate.

For the OP: The proposed legislation has just succeeded in its purpose. The city council has done everything to ring the last dime out of the tax payer in our fair city. New developers are now left with dwindling prospects at selling their properties, thus they lobby the legislature to give tax breaks to friendly businesses (read those business with enough savy and connections) to lure new residents up from DC. Locust Point is quiet, has water views and is accessible to 95. They only hope you and your DC money come up here.

Rant over.

@ aussiewonder: If there is better comfort food in this city than a grilled ham, egg and cheese sandwich and a pint of Guinness from J.Patrick's then I haven't found it. Aren't great finds in those "corner bars not even worth mentioning" the point of this site?

[hon]

UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*Love a good pint at J. Patricks

[Brofer]

Don't count out JR's across from Hull St blues for a good burger. Pazza Luna and Hull St are both good, and the food at the "new"Sly Fox location has been good also.